Kansas Community Empowerment

Stronger communities start here.

The Kansas Community Empowerment Program supports volunteer-led efforts to revitalize, inspire, strengthen, and elevate communities across Kansas. Backed by the Kansas Department of Commerce, this program provides tools, training, and funding that help local leaders turn great ideas into lasting impact. Whether it’s downtown beautification, civic engagement, or leadership development, we’re here to help your community move from intention to action—and from action to transformation.

Press Release

Communities

eNewsletter

Enrollment

Evergy Energy Tip – December

Save Energy this Holiday Season Between the colder weather, holiday lighting, and extra cooking, the holidays can mean more energy…

December 3

Special Enrollment Period Opens for Kansas Community Empowerment Program

The Kansas Community Empowerment (KCE) Special Enrollment Period is now officially open, offering communities across the state an opportunity to…

November 24

KPI Monthly Board Meeting

The Kansas Pride Inc. Board, doing business as Kansas Community Empowerment, will hold its regular monthly board meeting on December…

November 7

Evergy Energy Tip – November

Prepare Your Home for Winter Temps It’s been a little cooler lately. Now is the perfect time to prepare your…

October 1

Evergy Energy Tip – October

Unplug ‘Energy Vampires’ and Save on Your Bill Did you know there are appliances in your home that consume electricity…

August 26

Evergy Energy Tip – September

Keep Your Air Conditioning Working Smoothly We’re used to hot summers – and even falls – in the Midwest, but…

July 3

Commerce Launches New Chapter of Kansas Community Empowerment Program

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the Kansas Department of Commerce has assumed the administration of…

New Enrollment Process

Powerpoint Slides

Recorded Public Hearing

Enrollment Guidelines

Enrollment Form

Deadline December 31, 2025

	Community of Growth	Community of Action	Community of Excellence
Volunteers	Minimum (3)	Minimum (5)	Communities < 3,000, Minimum (5) Communities > 3,000, Minimum (10) + 2 external members
Annual Goals	Minimum (1)	Minimum (3)	Minimum (5)
Meetings per Year	Minimum (1)	Minimum (2)	Minimum (4)
Community Assessment	Recommended every 3-5 years, not required	Required within 6 months of enrollment and updated every 5 years	Required within 6 months of enrollment and updated every 3 years
Annual Project	–	Minimum (1) project valued at $500	Minimum (1) project valued at $1,000
Reporting	Twice per Year	Twice per Year	Twice per Year
Grants Eligibility	Spark Grants (up to $2,000)	Spark Grants (up to $5,000)	Spark + Impact Grants ($2,000-$15,000)
KCE Summit Access	Day Sessions	Day Sessions	Day Sessions + Evening Reception
Events & Hosting	Invited to Pop-Ups	Invited to Pop-Ups + Eligible to host board meetings and pop-ups	Invited to Pop-Ups + Eligible to host board meetings and pop-ups
Special Recognition	Annual Awards	Annual Awards	Annual Awards + Opportunity to be on Community Impact Tour
Resources & Training	Yes	Yes	Yes

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2025 Kansas Pride, Inc. Board of Directors

Sponsor Reps

REPLACEMENT: Filling term held by previous representative.

Michael Billinger
Midwest Energy
PO Box 898
Hays, KS 67601 [email protected]
Sponsor Rep 1 (Term Concludes in 2026) REPLACEMENT

Jada Ackerman – Past Chair
Networks Plus – Blue Valley Network of Companies
1559 Pony Express Hwy.
Home, KS 66438 [email protected]
Past Chair
Sponsor Rep 2 (Term concludes 2026)

OPEN
Sponsor Rep 3 (Term concludes)

Doug Helmke – Chair Elect
Kansas Rural Water Association
6847 SE 29th St. Tecumseh, KS 66542-9571
(785) 640-4701 [email protected]
Sponsor Rep 4 (Term concludes 2024 – REPLACEMENT)

OPEN
Sponsor Rep 5 (Term concludes)

Craig Freeman – Chairperson
Wilson Communications
[email protected]
Sponsor Rep 6 (Term concludes 2027)

Dylan Cox
Evergy [email protected]
Sponsor Rep 7 (Term concludes 2025 – 2nd Term)

Cindy Wegener
Nex-Tech
145 N Main St, Lenora, KS 67645
[email protected]
Sponsor Rep 8 (Term concludes 2025 REPLACEMENT)

Amy Bickel
IdeaTek
[email protected]
Sponsor Rep 9 (Term concludes 2027)

Community Reps

OPEN
Community Rep 1 (Term concludes)

Tress Jacobson and Deb Schreiner
Friends of Vermillion
[email protected]; [email protected]
Community Rep 2 (Term Concludes 2026)

OPEN
Community Rep 3 (Term concludes)

Marcia Davis and Donna Houser
Iola PRIDE
2 W Jackson Iola, KS 66749
[email protected]; [email protected]
Community Rep 4 (Term concludes 2027)

Laura Musil
Blue Rapids Community Action Team
[email protected]
Community Rep 5 (Term concludes 2027)

OPEN
Community Rep 6 (Term concludes)

Greg Howard

Lecompton PRIDE
[email protected]
Community Rep 7 (Term concludes 2025)

Denise Gillespie
Grainfield, KS 67737
[email protected]
Community Rep 8 (Term concludes 2025)

Alexander Leslie
Moreland, KS
Masons Community Representative
[email protected]
Community Rep 9 (Term concludes 2027)

Organization Reps

Bruce Chladny
Kansas Association of Counties Rep
[email protected]
(Term concludes 2026)

Kerry Pancoast
League of Kansas Municipalities
[email protected]
(Term Concludes 2026)

Rick Peterson and Deborah Kohl
K-State Research & Extension
Kansas State University
101 Umberger Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
[email protected]; [email protected]

Kayla Savage
Director of Community Engagement
Kansas Department of Commerce
915 SW Harrison St
Topeka, KS 66612
(785) 213-7056
[email protected]